The Eagles entered Sunday’s Week 5 matchup vs. the Cardinals because the NFL’s darlings, the crew receiving nationwide hype and adoration. It was deserved (they had been the league’s closing undefeated crew) and it was amusing, however ultimately you wish to have a dose of fact and you wish to have to difficult one out.
That’s precisely what came about in Arizona because the Birds had been dealt a coarse hand: debilitating offensive line accidents, a questionable enjoying floor, and a feisty Cardinals crew that regardless of their shortcomings would possibly not make issues simple for any person.
But a win’s a win, so let’s overreact to a sloppy, wonky, unusual soccer recreation in Phoenix:
1. This ugly recreation was good for the Eagles
It’s a ton of amusing to reel off landing after landing like they did in Week 4, or utterly close down an opposing offense like they did in Week 2, however the fact of an 18-week NFL season is that on occasion it is going to get dire in a rush and you wish to have to reply.
Which is why, whilst Sunday’s win was in large part irritating, I feel it was a good factor for this 12 months’s Eagles squad. They’re a legitimate Super Bowl contender (so long as well being lets in it) and on occasion you wish to have to have your jaw clenched for a complete recreation. It’s the way you prep for the large ones in January and February.
There are completely issues the Eagles want to blank up. Jalen Hurts had a so-so efficiency throughout the air, fast to flush the pocket and quick on some simple throws. The protection forgot learn how to take on (by no means good!) and Nick Sirianni appeared a bit reticent to head for the win as a substitute of steer clear of the loss.
But here is the object: the entirety the Eagles did Sunday that annoyed you is fixable. They all really feel like correctable errors, now not death-knell problems – they do not have a subpar quarterback, they do not lack skill, and they do not have a doofus at head trainer.
All of that is to mention… I feel the Eagles are high-quality. It would possibly now not really feel as good because it did after 4 weeks, however that is an overreaction to overreaction.
They’re high-quality.
2. Again with the tackling?
All that stated concerning the Eagles being high-quality… Jonathan Gannon, you might be again on skinny ice.
I want a solution to why his unit apparently began enjoying save you protection in the second one part towards one of the crucial explosive gamers within the NFL.
If you give a man like Kyler Murray house, he’ll use it towards you. If you give him time, he’ll devour it up and discover a course or a cross.
The maximum embarrassing play of the sport got here on a third & 17 within the 3rd quarter, when Rondale Moore stuck a cross and simply ran during all the protection for 17 yards and a primary down.
On their subsequent ownership rattled off a 12-play, 90-yard power to start out the fourth quarter that made the Eagles appear to be a school crew. The brutal tackling problems that plagued all of them afternoon had been wildly obvious at the power as Arizona transformed a couple of 3rd downs and principally were given no matter they sought after.
It was capped off by way of an attractive abysmal effort, throughout, from the fellows at the box at the twelfth play:
Gannon has a couple of very sturdy performances from this season to hold his hat on, however he additionally has all of 2021 to nonetheless make up for.
Sacking Carson Wentz 9 instances is not specifically spectacular while you keep in mind that it is Carson Wentz, and also you watch what that man does week in and week out. I’d’ve been far more inspired if Gannon got here into Sunday’s matchup out in Arizona with a surefire plan to stay Kyler Murray in take a look at. Instead, Murray ran in all places and made the Birds’ cross rush glance non-existent.
3. Why did we disregard about operating the ball?
I’m certain a part of Nick Sirianni and Shane Steichen’s solution to the offensive playcalling Sunday was coloured by way of the offensive line’s accidents, however the Eagles did not name just about sufficient run performs within the first part.
A faux punt conversion from the Cardinals will skew those numbers, however the Eagles did not name a non-QB sneak run play within the ultimate 11:48 of the second one part – together with a three-and-out that was simply 3 passes – and it was using me insane.
Per week after Miles Sanders was unstoppable at the floor (albeit in the back of a more healthy offensive line) it appeared like the offense simply forgot about its features as a operating behemoth?
If Sirianni and Steichen had been frightened concerning the O-line’s talent to transparent a trail for Sanders or Gainwell or Sermon, they without a doubt were not similarly frightened concerning the left facet of the road’s talent to stay Hurts blank within the pocket. It is going each tactics. And someday, it’s important to transfer issues up simply to stay the Cardinals guessing.
Unsurprisingly, when the Eagles’ decision-makers in any case snapped out in their fog within the fourth quarter the Birds had been abruptly in a position to transport the ball once more. Counting a designed run for Hurts, they reeled off six immediately rushes to transport from their very own 25-yard line to the Cardinals’ 35-yard line whilst draining 3 mins off the clock.
What an concept!
Hopefully the Eagles can have higher well being alongside the O-line in long term video games so Sirianni and Steichen do not overthink issues, however with this crew something is obvious: when unsure, run the ball.